When to get a new car?

This is my beloved Jeep Cherokee. It was the first car I bought for myself - I bought it when I was 19 years old and my husband was in Iraq. We had an atrocious interest rate of course, but I didn't care - it was mine! And we were able to refinance it a year later, and few years after that pay it off all together. As you can tell, for at least the first few years this was a mainly a toy for me. This poor car has been through a lot - lots of outdoor adventures, lots of crazy driving, and lots of big trips. As we grew up the Jeep stayed with us. We took it when we moved to Florida, and we brought Beth home from the hospital in it. Later we loaded it up the ceiling with luggage, people, and cats and made the 25 hour drive to our new station in Connecticut. Shortly after we moved here Matt Warren was born, and I made the big jump to a minivan. The Jeep now belongs to big Matt and has for years. I rarely drive it anymore, but I did take it out yesterday. And wow, it is a mess! The side mirrors are cracked, the review mirror just isn't there, only the driver side's window button works, the lining is falling down from the ceiling, there is no air conditioning, there are holes in the muffler. But still it is ours and we love it...I think we take for granted that it will always run. It's a tight fit in the back seat these days, but our kids looks happy nestled up all together. Next summer we'll make the big trip to our next duty station (which has yet to be determined) and we are crossing our fingers that the Jeep will make it!

Consequently our Kia Sedona is now payed off as well, and we have every intention of keeping it until it no longer runs as well. I guess neither Matt or I have understood the point of "upgrading" every few years. If ain't broke, don't fit it.... Our poor kids are going to be so embarrassed when we are still driving these cars to drop them off at middle school!

Off the the Vet

Poor Romeo is just scratching himself all up. I think he either has ear mites or an infection of some sort. It's just in one ear, and he's strictly an indoor cat so I don't know how he would get mites really. At least today is pay day....easy come easy go I guess. I feel like we have the worst luck with pet health. Poor Juliet had bladder stones and then spinal cancer...two years later Beth still frequently ask where she is and why the doctor couldn't make her better. Jack JUST had unrinary crystals and needed several vet visits plus a new prescription food - $$$. So I guess Romeo is really the healthiest out of the bunch! Well, except for the morbid obesity. What can I say? All diet attempts have been failures - for me and him! Now I see why Big Matt scurried Beth and I out of Pets' Mart and away from the kitten cages! We need another cat like I need a hole in the head. But, look how cute they are! Despite the expense, and the work, and the difficulty when we travel and move I know that we will always have pets.

Here is my sick boy Romeo...he looks pretty comfy in any case!



And as you can tell, he is great with the kids!



Here is handsome Jack...he is just a tad older than Beth



And finally, our beautiful Angel-Kitty Juliet.

Too Much Dora?

It cracks me up listening to little Matt say "No problemo...coming riiiiight up!"

Time for Soccer!

I signed Beth up for her very first soccer team last night. I took she and Matt with me to register and they were disappointed, they thought we were actually going to be playing soccer right then. Fortunately a trip to the park easily revived their moods. She will be playing right here in housing, and will have a game every Saturday at 9am. There goes our one day to sleep in! Not that little Matt lets up sleep in much anyway, lol. Practice for the "Munchkins," the four and five-year-olds, starts the end of August. I can't wait, I think she will really enjoy it. My brother Charlie and I always played soccer growing up. Back then you had to be five to start - probably for good reason! The four-year-olds tend to be all over the place, but they do have fun and start picking up a few facts about the game. I was told that the main goals at the Munchkin level are to teach good sportsmanship...and also to teach them not to use their hands. If you watch the video you'll see that Beth could use some work in that area!

Sweet Child of Mine...

Here it is - Carrie's completed Baby Book! Wow, I guess that official means she is on to toddlerhood. There's more to it than this, but these pages give a little peek into how much she has grown and changed.

I must say these baby books get a little harder with each child. I was so excited to start Beth's, and I faithfully recorded her milestones each month. With Matt I was a little behind, but I managed to pretty much keep things together. With Carrie I really had to go back and fill in most of it after the fact. Thank goodness we took a lot of pictures that I could refer back to! I really am glad to have a book saved for each child though. I want them to each to know their special history, and how Matt and I cherished each of them from before they were even born.

I feel lucky that my own mother kept an excellent baby book for me, which she then passed on to us when I was pregnant with Beth. I enjoyed looking through my milestones and habits and comparing them to each of our children's. I hope that one day my girls will be able to do the same. I imagine Matt Warren won't care as much, but maybe he will have a wife who will.

Happy 4th of July!

We had a perfect holiday weekend I think. Good food, good friends, cute kids, a parade, great fireworks.....what's not to like? Beth is getting old enough to start understanding the meaning behind the celebration too, so that was fun.